Encouragement

I just got back from a nice weekend at Cherry Valley Lodge. Hobart is staying with my friends Bob and Connie, who are currently raising their 21st puppy, Dare, for CCI! I'll say that I was THRILLED that they offered to watch Hobart, because they have a lot of experience and a huge passing rate, while I have very little experience and a perfect passing rate of zero.

When we went to drop him off on Friday night we got to watch Hobart and Dare play. Surprisingly there was NO growling or barking and neither of the dogs showed extreme dominance. It was great to see Hobart playing really well with another pup :)

After a month without class, it was great to see other PRs again and remind myself of the fact that Hobart is not doing as badly as I've said. I've been encouraged with the fact that pups are different and that he's doing fine! I'm always happy to remember that there's a reason that I puppy raise and that I don't have to be perfect!

Here are some pics of Hobart out playing on his longline.

Huh?

Puppy dog eyes

Really?

~Elijah & Hobart II

Dogs Make A Difference (the dogs that have changed my life)

Yesterday I was catching up on my blog list reading. I follow A LOT of blogs and I want a chance to read them all. So I try to read a couple of posts a day. I saw that Ours for a Year  had a new post. The post was about BD (before dog) and AD (after dog.)

There are so many views on dogs and how they affect people. I won't bring this up in a controversial sort of way, because I know that most of you who will read this love or at least can put up with dogs.

In that blog post on Ours for a Year Mimi talked about the difference a dog can make in a person's life. I believe that God can use things that in some people's minds are "just animals" and turn them into one of the biggest blessings ever.

My life has been changed so much through being a pet owner, working with rescue dogs, and raising puppies for CCI. People may see dogs as "trivial" things, but I see them as an amazing work of art.
I've seen dogs that got on my nerve and dogs that seem keenly in tune with human emotions.

I'm changing lives and my life is being changed. From some people's views there's know point in seeking happiness in the simple things of life, but it will never cease to amaze me that a furry, affectionate animal can change so many people's lives for the better. I know that my life has been more fulfilling than it would be if I had not chosen to share my life with animals.

Pepin-- The dog who has stayed by my side over the last six years (I don't have a picture of the two of us on this computer :(

Dembre-- The dog who taught me how to love selflessly

Hobart II-- the dog who is teaching me that I'm being changed, no matter how hard it may be.

Dogs change us in easy to see ways when they turn on the light for their master and also in subconscious ways by giving us some stability in a world that is never at peace. I thought I'd share these couple of paragraphs to express how much dogs have changed my life and how much they make a difference.
~Elijah, Pepin, Dembre, & Hobart II

Hobart's first snow.

Hobart got to experience his first snow. It has held off for awhile this year, but it always comes. It's could and wet, but we actually got about and eight of an inch of snow on the ground. Hobart didn't react at all! Here comes Christmas and another long Ohio winter!!!
~Elijah & Hobart II

Hobart's 5 for 5 (what I'm THANKFUL for)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! We hope you enjoy your thanksgiving plans. It just happens to that Hobart is 5 months old today!!!! He's allowed to go out in public!!! That's scary, because he's NOT very mature, but today's Thanksgiving so I'm going to say 5 things about Hobart that I'm thankful for.

1. I'm thankful that Hobart is intelligent and can learn quickly when he wants to. 
2. I'm thankful that I have been blessed with the opportunity to raise another puppy (even though it doesn't always sound like it.
3. I'm thankful that Hobart is getting better in the crate and walks nicely on a leash.
4. I'm thankful that he finally will do a "Down stay"
5. And finally, I'm thankful that Hobart has a sweet personality and really wants to be good even if he's difficult sometimes.

this picture's awful, but I thought I'd run out and take some pics this morning

why does he have to shut down for pics?

decent

Have a great Thanksgiving
~Elijah & Hobart II

Five for Five

Dembre is now five months here are five things that I like about Dembre.

(1) Dembre can now go out in public. Can't wait! I'm going to start with quick in and out trips to the library and then go on to trips to the grocery store and from there to just about anywhere.

(2) Dembre is acting less like a puppy and more like an adult dog. He isn't quite as excitable as he was a couple of months ago. He is content spending a lot of time in a "down" at my feet.

(3) Dembre is great on leash. He trots along at my side with a gentle leader or flat collar on. I don't think that he's going to ever need to wear a training collar.

(4) Dembre hasn't had an accident for weeks and toilets right away on command.

(5) Dembre now fits nicely into our family. He knows his place and all the family rules. Dembre knows our schedule and follows it without any problem. He is well loved and it is now easy to look at his positive side instead of his negative side.

To sum it up I look forward to the rest of his time in my home.